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Leukemia hasn’t slowed energetic Ike

Ike Yarmon is in the maintenance phase of treatment, and his care team hopes he will finish treatment in July 2016.

A child’s birthday should be fun and carefree. But just three days before Ike Yarmon turned 5 last year, his family got mind-blowing news: Ike had cancer.

At first, it seemed like Ike had a run-of-the-mill ear infection. Then, he developed a rash all over his body. It originally was thought to be a reaction to amoxicillin to treat his ear infection. During each visit, Ike’s pediatrician had his blood drawn, which indicated alarming white blood cell counts. It could be leukemia, his pediatrician said, but Ike didn’t have any other symptoms.

After continued declining white blood cell counts and a stubborn rash, his pediatrician recommended Ike’s parents, Chelsea and Chad Yarmon, take Ike to the emergency department at Children’s Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota.

Ike’s lab results perplexed the emergency department staff. Due to the possibility of having a serious viral infection, Ike saw Children’s infectious disease specialists. Further blood tests didn’t reveal a virus or inflammatory disease. Three days later, Ike underwent a bone marrow aspiration, which showed Ike had B-ALL leukemia.

Ike’s diagnosis has been life-changing for his family. It has shown them the “true meaning of living,” given them more purpose and brought them closer, Chelsea said.

“We fight so these children no longer have to endure these horrible treatments and so that no parent ever has to hear the life-altering words of ‘your child has cancer,’ ” Chelsea said.

Ike is in the maintenance phase of treatment, and his care team hopes he will finish treatment in July 2016. While his family counts the days until treatment is over, it hasn’t kept him from playing hockey and baseball, being outside and playing with his sisters and spending time with his family. He’s full of energy.

“We feel incredibly lucky and blessed that, even though Ike has cancer, he was diagnosed with a highly curable form and is handling his treatments like a true champ,” Chelsea said. “We know that his prognosis could be in a much different place, and for that we are truly grateful.”

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